I used to take my dog ​​to the local park off-leash at least once a week. There was a girl with a chocolate lab puppy named Jeter. Now, I’m all for unusual dog names and naming your dog after someone you really like … but she must have felt REALLY stupid yelling “DISCARD!” in the park when the cub was walking away.

Naming your dog can be one of the most entertaining parts of having a pet; It can also be one of the most difficult decisions you will ever make. My family fights quite often over the topic of naming a new pet! Unusual dog names are very popular choices, but here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

  • The shame factor. Do you really want to be yelling like crazy for “Mister Bubbles” in the middle of the night when your dog sneaks out of the yard?

  • The vowels carry. When you call your dog, it is the vowels that are transmitted. Try shouting your own name: what role do you have? They are usually the vowels. If your name is Mike, the extra strong version would be mIIIIIIIIIIIIIke!

  • The appearance of your dog. Your cute little pup may look like a Fuzzy-Wuzzy when he’s little, but he might grow up to be a biggy-wiggy who’s ashamed of his silly namey-wamey.

  • Your dog’s personality. Calling a toy poodle “Bruiser” might be a cute joke, but it might wear out a bit over time, and does it really look good on your pup anyway? Unusual dog names may be the order of the day, but let’s at least keep the names appropriate!

  • Other important words. Don’t choose a name that sounds like a command your dog is expected to follow. It will confuse your puppy and complicate training for you! The eight basic training commands are: Sit, Stay, Search, Lower, Stand, Exit, Stand, and Search. Try to stay away from these sounds.

  • Other family names. If your daughter is Holly and your dog is Molly, things are going to get a little confusing! On the other hand, sometimes my mother calls me by the dog’s name anyway. It can be very tiring for your poor pup to always come running when you call her or the similar sound.

  • Keep it short and sweet. Even if you want to choose from a list of unusual dog names, remember, the shorter your dog’s name, the better! You can put much more authority on a short name like Max than on long, unusual dog names like Beethoven or Beelzebub.

  • Name changes can be confusing. If your adopted pet comes up with a name that you don’t like, try changing it to a similar-sounding name, like turning Lucky into Lucy. However, I must say it didn’t work out for us so we went back to Lucky, much to our chagrin!

  • Try to choose a name that your dog responds to. I know a dog that came from the shelter and was already called Coyote, but he never responded to that name. One day, while playing, his owner called him moose. Well, when he heard that, he sat at attention! It’s been Moose ever since.

  • Make sure the name you choose is short enough to fit on an identification tag. And make sure your dog wears his tags ALL THE TIME. No matter how careful you are, your dog will find a way to escape if he wants to.

    • Are you ready for a terrifying statistic? Ninety-five percent of lost dogs NO using tags are NEVER recovered. On the other hand, ninety-five percent of stray dogs that ARE wearing tags make it home safely. Don’t count on being lucky; make sure your dog wears an identification tag at all times.

    Still don’t know how to call or NOT to call your new best friend? Maybe we can inspire you …

    Traditional dog names, such as Rex, Pal, Sparky, Prince, or Fido, can go well with fans of nostalgia. Or if you’re a bit of a history buff, think of famous historical figures! Lincoln, George, or anyone important will help you look up unusual dog names. Historic baddies names like Genghis or Nero may not work as well as some others. You know what they say about “give a dog a bad name and …”

    Pay tribute to your favorite movie or television stars by naming your pup after an actor or actress! Bogey would be a nice name for a dog, right? If your dog has a very outgoing personality, you may want to give him a name from the list!

    Or proudly proclaim your allegiance to Star Trek, Star Wars, or any sci-fi series. Spock the dog would tell you to “live long and with your legs.” Sorry I couldn’t resist that! But remember the short and sweet rule when choosing unusual dog names: “Luke” would be a better name than “Skywalker” unless you are going to call your dog “Sky” for short.

    Make the ordinary extraordinary by giving your dog a name in another language. Naming your dog Uno sounds boring, but “Uno” for a boy or “Una” for a girl sounds exotic and adorable. Be different! You can also look to lists of popular baby names for inspiration.

    Look to the sky – there are many interesting names that will inspire you in your search for unusual dog names. What about Jupiter or Pluto? How about Ursa or Rigel? A celestial body may have the perfect name for your little furry angel. And speaking of stars, how about naming your pet after a famous dog from the stage, screen, or the pages of a book? How about Eddie (Frasier’s dog) or Tiger (the Brady Bunch family dog)? Did you read a book as a child that inspired your love for animals? Get a name off the pages for your new friend!

    If your dog is the dashing and heroic type, why not name him after a superhero? “Superman” might not be a good name for a dog, but the guy with the big S had more than one name. “Clark” or “Kent” are not bad, or you can go so far as to use their Kryptonian name: “Kal-el.” There are many heroes (and villains) to choose from!

    Combining unusual dog name sets, like Laurel and Hardy or Penn and Teller, can be cute for a couple of puppies. Think of celebrity couples, artists, musical acts, or even fictional characters! What about “Dharma” and “Greg” for a boy and a girl? However, Beevis and Buthead may not like each other as well, especially if some burly passerby thinks you mean him instead of your dog – oh my gosh, that could spell trouble!

    If you’ve always loved Disney movies, you might want to give your pup a name inspired by the house of the mouse! “Mickey” is a great name for a puppy, but don’t discount the names of new productions too! “Sulley”, “Ariel”, “Tinkerbell”: let your imagination and your dog’s personality find the right name for your dog.

    Your dog can have more presence than anything else … why not name him after a mythological figure? “Hercules”, “Athena” and other names from myth can give your dog a sense of dignity and strength. I once met a German Shepherd puppy named Zeus who went from being an adorable fluffy puppy to an imposing and dignified adult – he really became his name!

    Let kids pick a name from their favorite children’s cartoons and shows – great inspiration for unusual dog names there! You may not want to call your dog “SpongeBob,” but after a few low-key negotiations, and a bribe or two, you may be able to agree on a name like Elmo, Nemo, or Dorrie.

    For an athletic breed, why not choose an athletic name? A favorite star of a favorite sport might have the perfect name for your pup. Just keep that embarrassment factor in mind, if you don’t mind yelling “Come here Joe Montana!” when your dog is out then by all means call him what you want. The sky, and the occasional sports star, is the limit when looking for unusual dog names.

    So to summarize, there are a host of great unusual dog names to choose from when naming the latest addition to your family. Let your imagination run wild. But, if you value your reputation and dignity, remember all the top tips you just read on how NOT to call your dog.